Wesley W. Kivisto

Era: World War II

Military Branch: Navy

Wesley W. Kivisto of Aurora, Minnesota, enlisted in the Naval Reserve on November 3, 1943 at Minneapolis, Minn.

He served as a Watertender 2nd Class in the continental United States until transferred to the USS LST 930 in the Pacific Theater.

In his words, "Our LST 930 (Landing Ship Tank) was in convoy to Normandy when we ran into a hurricane. We ended up going through the Panama Canal to San Diego, Calif., and from there to Pearl Harbor. The first major battle (for this ship) was Iwo Jima.

"I was with the first wave, February 19, 1945, 8 a.m. Our LST also served as a ''H'' vessel, stayed on the beach and took on the bad casualties. The doctors did surgery, etc. before the wounded were transferred to the hospital ship that was stationed 4 miles out. A medical crew was aboard our ship. It wasn't a pleasant sight. Departed February 28.

"April 1 I was with the first wave that hit Okinawa, 8 a.m. We did the same operation as at Iwo Jima. Departed April 25. June 3, with the first wave to hit Ikeya Shima. Our ship did same duties....It was during this battle that Ernie Pyle was killed, Departed June 6. Our ship spent some time around the Philippines and islands in the South Pacific. Departed Subic Bay August 11, 1945 in convoy for the invasion of Japan, as we were told.

"September 25 we brought occupation troops to Japan. We did this for many weeks. In February and March we were in New Guinea hauling jeeps, trucks, etc from the beaches and destroying them by dumping them in the ocean. April 7 we picked up a load of tires in Saipan and headed for the States. Our saying was ''Home, Hell or Heaven by '47 and the Golden Gate by '48."

He was honorably discharged on June 1, 1946 at Minneapolis, Minn.

Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 146.